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Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice

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The Paul A. McLennon, Sr., Honors Moot Court Competition The McLennon Competition, endowed through the generosity of University of San Diego School of Law Professor Michael Devitt and his family to honor longtime family friend, attorney and naval officer, Paul A. McLennon, Sr., provides an opportunity for students to develop their brief writing and advocacy skills and to test these skills in an open, rigorous competition. Organized by the University of San Diego School of Law Appellate Moot Court Board, the competition consists of several preliminary rounds, culminating in the final round argued before a distinguished panel of judges.

Case Before the Court In Stockom v. United States, a fictional case based on United States v. Comstock, pending before the Supreme Court this term, the constitutionality of the Adam Walsh Act is debated. This Act gives Congress the power to authorize the court-ordered civil commitment of “sexually dangerous” persons who are already in custody of the Bureau of Prisons, but who are coming to the end of their federal prison sentences. Stockom, the petitioner, was convicted of violating federal child pornography laws and served 73 months in federal prison. He was certified a "sexually dangerous" person six days prior to his scheduled release. For tournament purposes, our "Supreme Court" will be reviewing both the issue of whether such a civil commitment is constitutional and whether the use of a “clear and convincing” burden of proof in the commitment hearing violates the due process rights of those certified for commitment.